The pair that wanted to buy cocaine Sunday made two mistakes, police said: One was asking an off-duty cop for the drug.

The other was getting cash for the purchase from an ATM inside the Hartford Police Department.

Police said they arrested Noah Yankowski and Zachary Pillarella, both 21 and from Cromwell. They were charged with criminal attempt to possess narcotics and conspiracy to possess narcotics.

According to police, the doomed deal happened about 2:15 a.m. when the officer had finished his shift. He was walking to his personal vehicle when the two men approached and said they wanted to "buy coke."

The men also told him they would need to go to an ATM to get money for the drugs, so the officer pointed out that there was an ATM in the front lobby of the police station. They went inside to get the $60 to pay for cocaine while the officer alerted the people at the front desk of the soon-to-be foiled transaction, police said.

Christine Dempsey

Two men were arrested after getting cash from an ATM inside the Hartford public safety complex to buy cocaine.

Two men were arrested after getting cash from an ATM inside the Hartford public safety complex to buy cocaine.

(Christine Dempsey)

Police said they arrested the two, tagging the $60 as evidence.

"While given their inexperience, they are likely not addicts," Deputy Chief Brian Foley said Monday morning. "At any rate, hopefully they get the help they need, and this arrest will steer them away from narcotics in the future."